Tooth brush



F. A. JONES Oct. 18, 1938 TOOTH BRUSH Filed Sept. 11, 1936 IIIIIIIIIIIIIII'IIIIIIIII INVENTOR.

1 FRED fi. (/ONE'S BY W w I ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 18, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE TOOTH BRUSH Fred A. Jones, .Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Clean-'BeTween Toothbrush Co., Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Missouri Application-September 11, 1936, Serial No. 100,224

2 Claims. 7 (Cl. 306--30) My invention relates to toothbrushes and more particularly to an improved holder for toothbrushes having adjustable and replaceable brush heads.

An object of my invention is to provide a holder embodying improved clamping means for the adjustable retention of a brush head which permits the brush head to be readily moved to any desired angular position with respect to the holder and frictionally retained in its adjusted position.

A further object is to provide a brush holder which permits of the facile attachment and removal of a separable brush head.

A marked objection to prevailing clamping means for purposes analogous to that of the construction herein described is the fact that such clamps present openings and recesses which are prone to become filled with dentifrice and foreign matter which clog the assembly and renders the same unsanitary.

An important object of the present invention is to provide an improved clamp structure for the described purpose wherein no recesses or pockets which tend to accumulate undesirable matter are present, and which is devoid of projections or other sources of potential injury to the oral cavity and gums.

The immediate object of my invention is to provide a holder having an improved clamping device for securing thereto a brush head of the type described in U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,835,- 320, of December 8, 1931.

Further objects and advantages of the brush holder constructed in accordance with my inventon will be apparent from the following detailed description and accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a toothbrush constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view throughthe brush head clamping structure, the section being taken at line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional View taken at line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken at line 44 of Fig. 3.

Referring now by characters of reference to the drawing, the handle or brush holder includes an elongated grip 5, and a brush clamping assembly, denoted generally 6, at one end of grip 5. Grip 5 may be constructed of any suitable material having the requisite strength but preferably comprises a molded plastic formed cylindrically at the end adjacent the clamping means, and being flattened and slightly curved at the opposite end cement or other suitable means.

of an axial extension I on the inner end of a shaft 8, which extension may be embedded in the grip 5 when the latter is molded or secured by A metal ferrule 9 is provided on the outer end of grip 5 for purposes of strengthening and enhancing the appear- 10 ance of the same.

The shaft 8, of lesser diameter as compared to the outer end of grip 5, extends into an enlarged end portion II] of a tube or sleeve I I and is rigidly and permanently secured thereto. The shaft 8 is provided with a diametral slot I2 which extends longitudinally between the inner end of sleeve I I and ferrule 9. An axial bore I3 extending from slot I2 to the outer extremity of the shaft provides a passage for a clamping element I4.

The clamping element I4 is preferably constructed of heavy gauge, resilient wire and includes an arm which extends through sleeve II and through bore I3, terminating at its inner end within slot I2. Fixedly secured to the inner end element I4 is a small metal block I5 which is fitted to, and adapted for longitudinal sliding movement within slot I2. The block I8 is provided with external threads I1.

Mounted for rotation about the slotted portion of shaft 8 is a collar I8 having internal threads which operatively engage threads I"! on block I6. Collar I8 fits closely and fills out the reduced portion of the toothbrush handle, such reduced portion being constituted by shaft 8, and accordingly results in a handle which is relatively smooth and regular throughout its length.

The clamping member I4 projects outwardly beyond the end of sleeve II where it is provided with a crook I9 which is adapted to embrace the upstanding stud of a brush head 2| described in Patent No. 1,835,320, hereinbefore mentioned. The extreme end 22 of crook I9 projects backwardly into the mouth portion of sleeve I I which is flared to receive the same.

It will now appear that rotation of the collar or nut I8 in the proper direction results in the outward or inward movement of the clamping element relative to sleeve II, which consequently results in the expansion or contraction of loop I9. By the means described, loop I9 may be enlarged sufficiently to free the same from the stud 20 to permit removal and replacement of the brush head, and may be constricted about the and a removable brush head, said handle includ-- ing a slotted shaft, a sleeve projecting axially from one end of said shaft and rigidly connected thereto, an elongate element movable in said sleeve, said element terminatingat one end, in .a.

crook adapted to embrace and frictionally clamp a portion of the brush head when the elementis drawn inwardly .of said sleeve, an externally l threaded block disposed for, movement in the a shaft slot, secured to the oppositeend of said element, and an internally threadedcollar ,dis-.. posed about the slottedportion-oflsaid shaft and operatively engaging said block, said collar providing a closure for the shaft slot.

2. A toothbrush structure including a brush holder and a removable brush head having an anchoring stud, said holder comprising an elongated grip, a shaft fixedly secured to and extending axially from one end of said grip, said shaft being of lesser diameter than that of the adjacent end portionof the grip and having an intermediate, longitudinally extending slot and an axial bore extending from said slot to the outer extremity of the shaft, a sleeve forming a continuation of said shaft having its inner end rigidly secured about the outer end of said shaft, a resilient clamp atathe outer end of said sleeve adapted to be drawn toward the sleeve to cause its constrictionabout the brush head stud, an arm extendingy from) said clamp through the sleeve and shaft bore, an externally threaded block fixed to said arm and movable in the shaft slot, and an, internally threaded collalxon the shaft operativelylengaging said block, said collar,

providinga continuous, regular external surface 

